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Iowa's economy has been traditionally agriculturally based; however, that is changing rapidly. Food processing and industrial manufacturing are a major part of the economy. Citi-data reports that 120 of the Fortune Industrial 500 companies have plants in the state. Caterpillar, General Motors, U.S. Steel, and General Foods are large employers. Among Fortune 500 companies headquartered here are Principal Financial, Rockwell Collins, and Casey's General Store. National accounting giant McGladrey is headquartered in Minnesota but has a large presence here. KPMG, Ernst &Young, and Deloitte also have offices here. Local certified public accountant (CPA) firm Honekamp Krueger & Co. is headquartered in Dubuque but serves clients nationwide.

About 9,600 accountants are licensed in the state. The Iowa Workforce Information Network Iowa Occupational Projections for 2014 through 2024 expect growth of an average of 555 new jobs a year at a rate of 1.6 percent a year.

Iowa’s Workforce Development reveals that the median income among the state’s accountants was $56,680 as of 2015. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a median Iowa accountant's income at $61,550 a year. Iowa state statistics put the average income at $62,910. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants in Des Moines earn by far the highest average income at $70,230 as of 2016. Accountants in Cedar Rapids earn the second highest average income at $66,900.

To earn your CPA license in Iowa, you must pass all parts of the Iowa certified public accountant exam; this exam covers auditing and attestation, business environment and concepts, financial accounting, and reporting and regulation. To be licensed by the Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau, you need to complete a bachelor's degree at an accredited institution; you also must complete 24 hours in accounting courses including auditing, taxation and management accounting and 150 hours in total. You must attain a year of work experience that has been verified by an active CPA licensee.

You can turbo charge your career through involvement with various associations around the state. The Iowa Society of CPAs (http://www.iacpa.org) offers not only networking and continuing education but also a job board. The North Central Regional Council of the Institute of Management Accountants (http://www.imanet.org/ima_home.aspx) has programs for certified management accountants (CMAs) in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Des Moines, and Waterloo-Cedar Falls.

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FEATURED ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING PROGRAMS

More accountants and business professionals in Iowa are turning to master's
programs to earn the 150 semester hours required for a CPA license, or
just as a way to advance their knowledge in specialized areas of accounting.

43 Schools Offering Accounting Degree Programs:

Levels Offered:Bachelors DegreePrograms Offered:Bachelor of Science in AccountingMajor in AccountingMajor in Accounting and Business LeadershipMajor in Accounting and Financial ServicesMajor in Accounting and Information TechnologMajor in Accounting and Insurance Services

Levels Offered:Bachelors DegreePrograms Offered:Bachelor of Arts in AccountingBachelor of Arts in Accounting - Business EconomicsBachelor of Arts in Accounting - FinanceBachelor of Arts in Accounting - Information SystemsBachelor of Arts in Accounting - International ManagementBachelor of Arts in Accounting - Operations ManagementBachelor of Arts in Accounting - Project ManagementBachelor of Arts in Accounting - Public Administration(some programs offered online)

Levels Offered:Bachelors DegreePrograms Offered:Major in AccountingMajor in Accounting/Major in Agribusiness - Double Major in Accounting/AgribusinessMajor in Business/Major in Accounting - Double Major in Business/Accounting

Levels Offered:Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, MACC DegreePrograms Offered:Major in Accounting/Major in Acturial Science - Dual in Accounting/Actuarial ScienceMajor in Accounting/Major in Finance - Dual in Accounting/FinanceMajor in Accounting/Major in Information Systems - Dual in Accounting/Information SystemsMajor in Accounting/Major in International Business - Dual in Accounting/International BusinessMajor in Accounting/Major in Management - Dual in Accounting/ManagementMajor in Accounting/Major in Marketing - Dual in Accounting/MarketingMaster of Accounting

Levels Offered:Associate DegreePrograms Offered:Associate of Applied Science in Accounting And Information TechnologyAssociate of Science in AccountingAssociate of Science in Business Administration - Accounting